PORTLAND, Maine - Maine's U.S. senators say the federal government is providing more than $2 million to a Portland organization that serves the homeless population.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King say the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is awarding the money to Preble Street. The organization helps the homeless community, including but not limited to veterans, with issues such as housing and food.

PORTLAND, Maine - A new study finds Mainers are increasingly relying on food pantries for survival, and not for emergencies.

One in four respondents to a survey commissioned by hunger relief agencies reported being dropped from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program in the past year.

The groups behind the study say those kicked off food stamps due to restrictions instituted by Republican Gov. Paul LePage's administration are now relying on overworked charities. LePage claims his administration has gotten welfare recipients into jobs.

Despite discouraging news headlines about homelessness, some innovative Maine organizations have had meaningful success in reducing homelessness and improving the lives of the homeless population. We’ll learn about these solutions and what it would take to expand them.

PORTLAND, Maine - A day before a deadline set by Portland police, most or all of the people living in a longtime homeless encampment on privately-owned land behind a shopping center near Westbrook have moved on.

Police department officials said yesterday that camp residents would have until tomorrow to clear out - and then police would start issuing trespass warnings.

Homeless organizations have been working with residents for some time, trying to bring them into the shelter system, or get them vouchers for reduced-price housing.

The city of Portland has been at the center of the storm over the issue of panhandling, but other Maine communities are also grappling with it and discussing whether to put limits on people soliciting money from passers-by. In Portland, a ban on panhandling from median strips was ruled unconstitutional earlier this year and now the city is appealing that ruling. In Augusta last week, the police chief made news by using a cardboard sign to stage his own anti-panhandling protest.